Unions to blockade resources giants

Unions will stage a mass blockade of the Perth offices of resources giants Chevron and
Woodside
next week, in protest against the use of overseas workers on projects such as Chevron’s massive $43 billion Gorgon development in Western Australia.

Maritime Union of Australia state secretary
Chris Cain
told The Australian Financial Review yesterday thousands of workers would “shut down St George’s Terrace" – the city’s main business axis – over the issue.

It comes amid separate campaigns by the powerful mining and construction and maritime unions to win pay rises of up to 50 per cent and better conditions for their members in the resource-rich state. These include a greater say in issues normally the domain of management, such as rostering of workers.

Mr Cain said youth unemployment in parts of Western Australia was higher than 20 per cent.

Given this, he was disappointed at the federal government’s stance of helping the big resource companies import overseas workers through the 457 visa system, under changes announced in the May federal budget.

“We have put it on the ALP through [ministers]
Bowen
,
Ferguson
, and
Evans
, and we’ve had a gutful of it, so we’re going to go and march on Chevron’s [and Woodside’s] offices," he said yesterday.

Mr Cain said “thousands" of workers from a range of unions would gather from 12 noon next Tuesday. “I have hired all the buses, and we’re going down there – wharfies, seamen, everyone," he said.

It has the potential to add to delays at the state’s ports, already the subject of union stoppages over pay rises.

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The Maritime Union recently ratified a deal that will give its dockworkers associated with the Gorgon project a 27 per cent pay rise over three years, partly to offset high living costs.

It is also in negotiations with the Port of Fremantle over higher wages and improved rosters for traffic controllers at the port, including possible strikes which could close the harbour. The union also wants wage rises of up to 50 per cent at some of 20 national ports of the stevedore firm POAGS.

Chevron said the Gorgon project had already resulted in $15 billion in contracts flowing to local companies, creating 5000 jobs, the bulk in WA. Its contractors had to satisfy local employment laws, a spokesman said.

“To date, the Gorgon project has provided about 1000 jobs in MUA classifications including seafarer, catering and stevedoring jobs; an additional 750 MUA classified jobs are expected to be created," he said.

“Having a ready-made local workforce is good for the economy and helps businesses like Chevron Australia plan efficiently."

But Mr Cain said the union wanted an end to the use of 457 visas until there was an inquiry into the industry.

He said the union was battling one of Chevron’s main offshore contractors – Allseas – over the use of what it claimed was inappropriate temporary visas to employ crane operators.

Woodside declined to comment.

Business has argued that greater use of 457 visas is necessary ahead of a looming mining investment boom. It forecasts a shortage of 150,000 workers in WA by 2017, which local workers alone could not fill.

The industrial relations policy manager at WA’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Marcia Kuhne, said the union’s actions reflected a “growing confidence" of its powers under the federal Fair Work Act.

She said this was being reflected in other areas, such as union demands for dedicated offices on building sites, and time off for union training.

In its May budget, the federal government introduced a scheme to expedite the use of 457 visas for resource projects of more than $2 billion.

A spokesman for Federal Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said immigration was, in some cases, unavoidable and recent changes to the 457 visa system would shore up local job opportunities and protect foreign workers from exploitation.

“Our first priority is – and will always be – jobs for Australians," he said. “But with critical skills shortages in a number of key industries, there is a need for temporary workers to help keep our economy strong."